According to the new study "The Role of Cities in Climate and Energy Policies: The Case of the Covenant of Mayors" by David Donnerer from Aarhus University, the Covenant of Mayors has empowered cities in their climate and energy policy-making capacities and their multi-level governance relations to become key EU climate and energy actors.

Over 7000 cities have joined the Covenant of Mayors since it came into life in 2008. They have been honoring their commitments to the world’s leading urban climate and energy initiative by substantially reducing GHG emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy actions. In return, the Covenant of Mayors has enabled cities to acquire a key role in climate and energy policies, as the new study "The Role of Cities in Climate and Energy Policies: The Case of the Covenant of Mayors" finds.